Aphids and chitting potatoes?

[bikermike]

Anyone had this before?

My over wintering sweet pots seem to have brought guests in.

My spuds are chiting next to them. The ones nearest are save pink fir. All the shoots grown in the dark have died off and nothing much is happening.
The desiree (also saved) have lost some shoots, but are putting out new ones. Charlotte (bought) seem to be doing fine.
All conditions are the same for all spuds. Am I just being paranoid, or do aphids have form for this?

[ameno]

Aphids can attack potato shoots, but they shouldn't cause the shoots to die, at least not unless you allow them to become completely inundated.
You say, thus far at least, the dying shoot problem is only affecting your saved potatoes, not your bought ones? That being the case, I'd be more likely to suspect a problem with the saved potatoes, some manner of bacteria or fungus.

[bikermike]

Fair enough, that is the least-worst answer.

Thanks

Mike

[veggiechicken]

Are the sweet pots in pots? Just wondering if its fungus gnats?

[ameno]

Are the sweet pots in pots? Just wondering if its fungus gnats?

Fungus gnats wouldn't attack chitting potatoes. They like moist conditions, ideally with fungal material to eat (hence the name). They don't feed primarily on plant roots, and the adults aren't attracted to plants to lay their eggs. Rather, the adults lay in moist, rotting organic matter (especially woody organic matter), and the larvae eat primarily fungal material in the compost, but will often eat plant roots while they are there, too.

[bikermike]

Thanks Veggie!
Pretty sure it's not fungus gnats - they look aphidy.